Just hours before Congress passed its deadline to fund the government, Sen. Andy Kim gave an emotional, 20-minute explanation to constituents for why he sees the shutdown as a pivotal moment for Democrats to fight back against President Donald Trump.

“Look, this is going to be a challenge going forward, but it’s a lot that’s at stake,” Kim, a freshman New Jersey Democrat, said during a telephone town hall Tuesday night. “I think it’s worth fighting for people’s health care. I think it’s worth fighting for people to have affordability in their lives and to fight against the lawlessness that’s out there.”

Democrats are banking on their base — and some people in the middle — taking their side in the government shutdown, even as the party mounts its challenge with very little leverage and as

See Full Page